ACMA Issues Warning to MMA Fighter Jamie Mullarkey for Promoting Illegal Gambling

ACMA Addresses Illegal Gambling Promotion by MMA Athlete

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued an official warning to mixed martial arts competitor Jamie Mullarkey for breaching Australian regulations by advertising an illegal offshore gambling platform via sponsored social media posts.

Significance of the Warning

Carolyn Lidgerwood, a member of ACMA, explained that this enforcement action aims to alert social media influencers and their managers about the risks and responsibilities associated with promoting illegal gambling services. Athletes and prominent online personalities hold considerable sway over their audience, which can influence people to engage with unauthorized gambling platforms.

This case marks the first occasion ACMA has taken direct action against a social media influencer for violations related to Australia’s online gambling laws. After reviewing the situation, ACMA issued a formal warning, noting that Mullarkey quickly ended his sponsorship agreement, cooperated with authorities, and removed the infringing content.

Lidgerwood highlighted that Mullarkey acknowledged his wrongdoing and expressed sincere regret. She emphasized that influencers must recognize that endorsing illegal online gambling operations is unlawful and could lead to severe penalties.

This warning aligns with ACMA’s broader efforts this year to target influencers who advertise illegal gambling services and websites.

Findings from ACMA’s Investigation

Investigations revealed that in 2025, Jamie Mullarkey promoted an unauthorized offshore gambling service on his Instagram through sponsored content. His profile included references to the sponsorship, such as links to the gambling site and use of promotional hashtags connected to the service.

Australian law prohibits promoting illegal gambling platforms, including through social media posts, live streams, sharing direct links, or organizing giveaways tied to unlawful operators.

Those who publicize illegal gambling services may face civil fines up to $59,400. Facilitators who provide access—such as by sharing hyperlinks or directing users to these platforms—can be fined up to $2.475 million.

ACMA has pledged to utilize its complete regulatory authority to impose substantial penalties when appropriate on influencers who promote or enable access to illegal gambling services.

Additional Regulatory Actions by ACMA

In another recent move, ACMA placed the gambling company Entain into a remediation program after identifying multiple violations related to its player self-exclusion systems, underlining the regulator’s commitment to enforcing gambling laws and protecting consumers.